Boeing still 'laser focused' on building two new Air Force One planes despite US accepting Qatari jet

Boeing is adamant that it remains focused on building two new Air Force One planes.

This comes in the aftermath of US President accepting a plane as a gift from the Qatar Royal Family.

The news made headlines across the globe, with Boeing reeling from the news.

But the aircraft builder’s top executive is defiant about his firm’s obligation for Air Force One.

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Boeing sits at the eye of a gifting storm

Boeing is once again making headlines across the world.

The American aircraft manufacturing giants seem to regularly court controversy.

But last month blew all of the other issues right out of the water.

During a state visit to Qatar, the Emir offered an extremely generous gift to US President Donald Trump.

The gift wasn’t exactly a nice basket of fruit – or even a gold watch.

In fact, the Emir gifted the current Commander-in-Chief a brand-new Boeing 747-8i jet.

Naturally, the news caused the world to almost come to a shuddering halt.

Critics lambasted the President for accepting such a lavish gift in an official capacity, as the Constitution warns against it.

And the original manufacturers weren’t exactly thrilled about the news, either.

The first-ever Air Force One was built for President Dwight D. Eisenhower back in the 1950s.

Since the 1960s, the Seattle-based brand has built the traveling fortress for the serving President.

The current Air Force One plane has been in service since George H W Bush was President back in 1990.

And Boeing’s top man has remained defiant in terms of plans to maintain that status.

Seattle’s top man remains defiant in the face of issues

Stephen Parker is currently the interim president and CEO of Boeing.

Parker recently attended a press conference at the Paris Air Show, and there was only one topic of discussion.

After side-stepping the core issues surrounding the donation, Parker remained bullish.

He maintains that Boeing remains ‘laser focused’ on supplying the President.

“We’ll support the President in any way,” Parker was quoted as saying.

Boeing, however, is having its own internal issues on that front.

Developments for the new Air Force One have reportedly fallen behind.

Supply chain issues, as well as a lack of cleared workers, have hampered Boeing’s efforts.

The new Air Force One 747 units were actually scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

Delays now mean that this might not happen until as late as 2029.

The current US President will certainly be leaving on a big jet plane.

But which one is going to carry him away at the end of the day?